Toronto Maple Leafs Capture the Winter Classic


Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It was announced Monday morning that the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings will make history one more time. The two hockey giants will square off in the 2014 Bridgestone Winter Classic. The event is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2014.

The location for the hockey game is Ann Arbor, Michigan. For those Leaf fans wondering what kind of advantage the Wings will have with the game being played in Detroit’s backyard, think again. It is speculated that over 100,000 will be in attendance. More than half of the spectators are rumored to support the blue team.

The Maple Leafs and Red Wings rivalry goes back to 1927 when they first faced off on January 4 of that year. The two teams are a part of National Hockey League’s long standing history as a part of the early genesis of the NHL’s original six.

Of course the Winter Classic featuring the two hockey powerhouses was supposed to occur this year on Jan. 1, but the lockout at the time stalled that game from occurring. This hockey game between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs could just be the start of something special and why? It has been reported that the NHL will receive a conference makeover.

“I think it’s very exciting for us as an organization and for our fans to be geographically located where we ought to be,”  Winnipeg Jets chairman Mark Chipman said. “It looks like from a League perspective [realignment] solved a lot of issues, so we’re very supportive of it.” With the re-alignment scheduled for next season, the winter classic match up could just be the beginning that fuels their hockey fans.

Some of the teams that took part in hockey’s winter tournament include the New York Rangers vs. the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins taking on the Washington Capitals.  If you live in Canada, you won’t miss a second of the action as Sportsnet has secured rights to cover the Winter Classic while HBO will continue their documentary series 24-7 for their viewers in the United States.

Check out the 100 Hottest Cheerleaders
These 15 NHL Players are the Best of All Time
Check out the top 25 NHL Players Under the Age of 25

Sign Up
for the

We Recommend

Rant NHL

Around the Web

Around the Web